“I Choose to Live”—Beverly’s Journey with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy 

Beverly, 66, has always been an energetic, can-do lady, known for her upbeat personality and unmistakable fashion flair. But a few years ago, her health had deteriorated so much that she barely recognized herself. By the time Beverly met with Emory Healthcare cardiac surgeon Tamer Attia, MD, she was on oxygen 24/7 and had to use a wheelchair.

“Beverly was one of the sickest patients I have ever operated on,” says Dr. Attia, the surgical director for the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy program at Emory Healthcare. “She needed surgery to treat her hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but some of the physicians were hesitant to recommend it. There was a strong possibility she wouldn’t survive the operation.”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a chronic disease that causes the heart muscle to thicken, stiffen and enlarge. Over time, it can cause life-threatening complications, including an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), a leaky heart valve and congestive heart failure. It can even lead to sudden death. While it’s a fairly common genetic heart condition, many people go undiagnosed.

Beverly had never heard of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy when she started seeing an Atlanta-area cardiologist in early 2018. Her main concerns were shortness of breath, dizziness and low blood pressure. The cardiologist prescribed medicine and cardiac rehabilitation, but nothing helped. In fact, Beverly was getting weaker.

“I was frustrated with my cardiologist—she seemed too comfortable with my condition,” says Beverly. “So I started doing my own research.”

Beverly talked with her primary care doctor about her symptoms later that year. Concerned, he sent her to the emergency department. The next day, she had surgery to implant a defibrillator and pacemaker. The device helped protect against dangerous arrhythmias, but it couldn’t address the underlying issue. Beverly continued to decline.

Over the next three years, Beverly was hospitalized several times. Finally, an imaging test revealed what was causing her symptoms. The wall (septum) between the two lower chambers of Beverly’s heart was abnormally thick—an unmistakable sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. “The ultrasound tech was so shocked by what she saw on the screen that she gasped,” says Beverly.

A quick Google search told Beverly gave her the information she needed to move quickly: her condition was serious but potentially treatable. She immediately asked her cardiologist for a referral to a cardiac surgeon and called Dr. Attia’s office for an appointment.

The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy program at Emory Heart & Vascular is the largest program in Georgia dedicated to caring for people with this condition. It was also the first program in Georgia that the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association recognized as a Center of Excellence. Patients throughout Georgia and neighboring states rely on Dr. Attia and his colleagues for expert diagnosis and treatment.

“Our team thoroughly evaluates each patient to identify which treatment options will offer the most benefit,” Dr. Attia says. “Our cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiac electrophysiologists offer a wide range of therapies available at very few centers in our region.”

Beverly also met with B. Robinson (“Robbie”) Williams, MD, medical director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy program. Like others on the care team, he was very concerned about her poor condition. Especially troubling was the fact that her long-standing, untreated heart condition had led to elevated blood pressure in her lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

The team agreed that medicine and minimally invasive therapies would not significantly improve Beverly’s heart function. The next option was surgery, which would involve removing part of Beverly’s thickened heart muscle. It would be very risky, and the doctors debated whether it was even an option.

Dr. Attia ultimately decided to give Beverly the choice.

“Dr. Attia explained that I might not survive the surgery. But without it, I probably had less than six months left to live anyway,” she says. “And I remember telling him, ‘Dr. Attia, I choose to live.’

“I knew I couldn’t keep going like I was,” she adds. “Dr. Attia had a lot of experience with this surgery, and I trusted him because he was so honest with me. I decided to take my chances with him.”

The surgery was far from routine. Despite the team’s thorough preparation for a very high-risk procedure, Beverly went into cardiac arrest on the table before Dr. Attia could even open up her chest. He resuscitated her with the surgical team’s help and was able to continue. “I removed 26 grams of septal muscle, the most I’d ever had to remove from a patient with HCM,” he says.

Beverly remembers being a difficult patient during her six-week hospitalization. “I was on oxygen and felt terrible,” she says. “I didn’t want to eat or do physical therapy. But you know what, those nurses loved me. They got me to talk about my future goals and dreams. I told my favorite nurse, Emily, that if I ever got strong enough, I would travel the world.”

And that’s precisely what Beverly did. The year after her surgery was challenging as she worked to recover her strength and mobility. But these days, she no longer needs supplemental oxygen or a wheelchair. She walks without assistance and is busy fixing up her new house and volunteering with her church and the local sheriff’s department. Beverly has already traveled to Greece, Italy and Hawaii. Next on her list is Morocco—she’s heard great things about their coffee, cuisine and colorful markets.

Beverly follows up with Dr. Attia once a year, and he continues to marvel at her recovery. At Beverly’s most recent primary care check-up, her doctor gave her a clean bill of health.

“I am so thankful for the second chance Dr. Attia gave me,” Beverly says. “My mantra now is to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity I have to enjoy the life God has given me.”

 

Get Specialized Care for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, seeking care from a specialized program like the one at Emory Healthcare is essential. The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association recognizes Emory Healthcare as a Center of Excellence, acknowledging our commitment to high-quality care.

Learn more about the Emory Healthcare Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy program or call 404-778-0175 to make an appointment.